HARARE, Zimbabwe – Ireland Wolves have claimed a dominant victory by 212 runs after wrapping up Zimbabwe A second innings after Tea on Day Four of a well-fought first of two 4-day matches on this tour.
Starting the day at 61-1, with a mammoth 409 runs still to achieve victory, Zimbabwe lost a wicket in the first over of the day, when a Mark Adair off-cutter kept low and trapped Tanunurwa Makoni in front for 14.
Dion Myers and Takudzwanashe Kaitano then put on 45 runs before captain Matthew Humphreys drew Kaitano forward and turned it just enough to catch the edge and it flew to Adair at first slip.
Wickets then fell at regular intervals with Zimbabwe A were 172-4 at Lunch, then when players left the field mid-afternoon for bad light (which triggered the umpires to call an early Tea break), the home side were 247-6. The spinners had made the in-roads for the Wolves – Humphreys (3-64) and Gavin Hoey (3-57) bowled with control and looked to threaten both edges of the bat.
During the Tea break a storm passed over the ground and play stopped for an hour and there was a few thoughts stirring that the weather may save the home side from defeat. But, no. Play resumed at just before 4pm local time, and within 17 balls the Wolves had finished off the Zimbabwean tail – with the injured Trevor Gwandu not able to bat. The Wolves had triumphed by 212 runs.
The two sides will be back on Thursday at the same venue to play the second 4-day match of the series.
Match Summary
Zimbabwe A v Ireland A – 1st Four-Day Match, Harare Sports Club, 8 November 2026
Ireland A 424 (93.1 overs; B Calitz 80, G Hoey 78, M Adair 51; T Maposa 3-49)
Zimbabwe A 261 (80 overs; T Kaitano 108; M Humphreys 3-60)
Ireland A 306-6 dec (71 overs; C Carmichael 151*, T Tector 105)
Zimbabwe A 257-9 (65.4 overs; D Myers 97; G Hoey 3-57, M Humphreys 3-64)
Ireland Wolves won by 212 runs
